Amos: Introduction (4)
Pray Psalm 2.1, 2.
Why do the nations rage,
And the people plot a vain thing?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
And the rulers take counsel together,
Against the LORD and against His Anointed…
Sing Psalm 2.1, 2.
(Agincourt: O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High)
Why do the nations vainly rage,
conspiring together from age to age?
Earth’s kings and all of their couns’lers stand
against the LORD and His Right Hand.
Read and meditate on Amos 1.3, 6, 9, 11, 13, and 2.1, 4, and 6.
Preparation
1. What do these passages have in common?
2. What does this tell us about Judah and Israel?
Meditation
What is the significance of this repeated formula: “For three transgressions…and for four”? I mean, three or four sins? Is that so much to get all worked up about?
Yes. Even one sin is infinitely offensive to God. But that’s not what’s in focus here.
This formula is a symbol. It says one thing, but it means something more. Let’s consider first the numbers—three and four. Three is the number for God in Scripture, and four is the number for man and the earth. Is God saying that the sins of these nations, so many and so continuous, have finally reached like a stench to Him? And is He saying that their sins are the “full cup” of human transgression? As bad as could be?
Alternately, God might be saying, “Three sins plus four sins equal seven sins!” And seven is the number of completion: God has had enough of sinning.
Another possibility is that God is remarking the unrelenting continuity of their sins—one after another after another after another, and no recognition of guilt, no repentance, no letup. These sinners just won’t quit!
Finally, as God applies this symbol even to His own people it is made clear that Israel and Judah have lost their distinctiveness, their “set-apartness”. They’re no different and no better than these horrible nations all around. The people who were created to be a Kingdom of priests to God have become idolators, adulterers, murderers, thieves, liars, and more, just like the nations they looked down on and scorned.To which we can only reply: Uh oh.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“These six things the LORD hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him:
A proud look,
A lying tongue,
Hands that shed innocent blood,
A heart that devises wicked plans,
Feet that are swift in running to evil,
A false witness who speaks lies, and
One who sows discord among brethren” (Prov. 6.16-19).
“Woe to those who devise iniquity, and work out evil on their beds.
At morning light they practice it, because it is in the power of their hand.
They covet fields and take them by violence, also houses, and seize them.
So they oppress a man and his house, a man and his inheritance.
Therefore thus says the LORD: ‘Behold, against this family I am devising disaster,
from which you cannot remove your necks; nor shall you walk haughtily, for this is an evil time’” (Mic. 2.1-3).
“For three transgressions…and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, because they have despised the law of the LORD, and have not kept His commandments. Their lies lead them astray…” (Amos 2.1, 4, 6).
Three, four, six, seven…numbers, without number, that just compound upon themselves. Sin is that way, too. It hardly happens alone, and rarely comes in singlets. One sin leads to another, and another, ad infinitum. Ad nauseum. “For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness, nor shall evil dwell with You” (Ps. 5.4).
May I suggest that instead of adding we begin subtracting, hearing God say: For four transgressions minus four I will not need to send My punishment; or these seven things subtracted from your life will bring me great pleasure. Furthermore, others will see your good works and glorify Me (Matt. 5.16). They will know that you love Me because you are keeping My commandments instead of despising them (Jn. 14.15). Furthermore, the world will know that we are friends because you are obeying Me (Jn. 15.14). And icing on the cake? The people in your Personal Mission Field will know My love. “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments” (1 Jn. 5.2).
We needn’t be an abomination of accumulated transgressions as Israel and Judah were. We can be pleasing to God: By adding obedience, and subtracting sin, the order of operations in His economy is fulfilled.
Reflection
1. Sin can snowball in our lives. What keeps that from happening?
2. What’s the best proactive way to keep sin from lodging in our soul?
3. What do you need from your fellow believers to keep you from snowballing into sin?
[W]hen God spared not others who had through ignorance sinned, what was to become of the people of Israel, who had been taught in the law? For a servant, knowing his master's will, and doing it not, is worthy of many stripes (Luke 12:47)… John Calvin (1509-1564), Commentary on Amos 2.4, 5
Pray Psalm 2.10-12.
Pray for our country, the nations of the world, and the Church of the Lord, that we will repent of our sins and seek Him for revival, renewal, and awakening.
Sing Psalm 2.10-12.
(Agincourt: O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High)
Be wise, O kings, O judges, hear,
and tremble with joy, serve the LORD with fear.
Embrace the Son, keep His wrath at bay,
or you shall perish in the way.
His wrath is kindled like a flame
at all who refuse to bow to His Name.
Beware His anger and judgment grim:
How blessed are all who trust in Him!
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Support for Scriptorium comes from our faithful and generous God, who moves our readers to share financially in our work. If this article was helpful, please give Him thanks and praise.
And please prayerfully consider supporting The Fellowship of Ailbe with your prayers and gifts. You can contribute online, via PayPal or Anedot, or by sending a gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, P. O. Box 8213, Essex, VT 05451.
Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
